2012 Fantasy Football Stock Report: Running Backs

Missing Include

May 8, 2012

There will be many more 2012 Fantasy Football Rankings and features in the late spring and summer, including tons of 2012 Fantasy Football Mock Drafts, Player Rankings, Sleepers and Busts. I'll also have an extensive 2012 NFL Fantasy Football Preseason Stock Report.

2012 Fantasy Football Stock Report: Running Backs

LeGarrette Blount, RB, Buccaneers
The coaching staff hated LeGarrette Blount last year because he could not learn how to pass protect. Doug Martin, drafted in the first round, will have more touches than Blount.

Delone Carter, RB, Colts
Delone Carter, who had fumbling problems last year, was the pick of the old regime. This new Colts' regime likes fifth-rounder Vick Ballard better, so if Donald Brown struggles or gets hurt, it's likely that Ballard will shoulder most of the workload.

Montario Hardesty, RB, Browns
My condolences to anyone who had Montario Hardesty on their dynasty team. Trent Richardson won't be coming off the field very much.

Kendall Hunter, RB, 49ers
Why would the 49ers draft LaMichael James when they already had a somewhat similar player in Kendall Hunter? Frank Gore will get injured next year, but there will be too many backs taking touches for a reliable fantasy player to emerge.

Mark Ingram, RB, Saints
Mark Ingram had a knee scope recently. Knee scopes normally aren't a big deal, but Ingram fell in the 2012 NFL Draft because of knee concerns. I'm dropping Ingram in my 2012 Fantasy Football Rankings because he could spend most of 2012 on the injury report.

Knowshon Moreno, RB, Broncos
Ronnie Hillman won't take touches away from Willis McGahee; the Broncos see him as a chance-of-pace back who will likely displace Knowshon Moreno - though Moreno probably shouldn't be on the roster anyway.

Adrian Peterson, RB, Vikings
This has nothing to do with the NFL Draft, but it was recently reported that Adrian Peterson has been running sprints with his teammates. I don't need to tell you that's good news. Peterson's outlook is better now, but he's not out of the woods yet; he needs to prove that he can cut.

Isaac Redman, RB, Steelers
The Steelers didn't draft a real running back, which says they're confident in Isaac Redman's ability to handle the bulk of the carries until Rashard Mendenhall returns from injury.

Stevan Ridley, RB, Patriots
The Patriots just signed Joseph Addai. Bill Belichick didn't trust Stevan Ridley last year, so there's a chance he'll roll with Addai as the starter for at least the first half of the season.

James Starks, RB, Packers
I thought the Packers would bring in some competition for James Starks. They didn't, so that might mean that they're confident in his ability to shoulder the workload.

Michael Turner, RB, Falcons
Michael Turner really struggled down the stretch last year. He's running on fumes at this point of his career, but the good news is that the Falcons spent their first two selections on offensive linemen.